Urea condensation product and process



Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -ROBERT W. BELFIT, OF WATERTOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 SCOVILL MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICU T UREA. CONDENS ATION PRODUCT AND PROCESS No Drawing. Original application filed June 25, 1927, Serial No. 201,555. Divided and this application filed April 12, 1929. Serial No. 354,691.

The present invention relates particularly to compounds produced from condensation products obtainable from the ureas, such as urea (carbamid), thiourea (thiocarbamid) and/or their derivatives, to a process of producing such compounds, and to certain novel mixtures of such compounds with the natural resins. The use of kindred compounds, as

equivalents, broadly, of the ureas, for form-' ing condensation products, is contemplated. For example, cyanamid (NCNH ,guanidine (HNC(NH and/or active derivatives thereof may be employed in lieu of the "ureas. These may all be classed as compounds having a group containing a carbon atoin bonded to two or more nitrogen atoms','at least'one of which is an amino-nitrogen.

The present application is directed to a process and product in which a natural resin is employed as a plasticizing agent in connection with a condensation product of urea, or the like, certain other agents being prefer ably employed, also.

(condensation products of the ureas are known, but hitherto they have been capable of little, or very limited, practical use. Likewise condensation products of the derivatives such as benzoylcarbamid, acetylcarbamid, etc. are known.

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to combine with condensation products of the ureas a suitable chemical-resistivity increasing agent, for example, salicylic acid taken in considerable proportion,

-' and thereby obtain a result-ant product which is vastly more resistant to the action of solvents, sulphur compounds and other corrosive agents. Also, by producing the improved compound in the form of a solution employ ing suitable solvents, it is possible to provide a novel lacquer having improved characteristics. Such a lacquer may be employed, for example, in protecting metal surfaces, and is particularly valuable in protecting the surfaces of non-ferrous metals, such as silver,

nickel, copper, brass, aluminum, and various alloys.

In forming the novel compound embodied in a solution, suitable as a lacquer, for example, it is preferred to preparatorily form a soluble condensation product of a urea and formaldehyde, or its equivalent; and in this procedure, it is preferred to employ urea and formaldehyde (40% solution) in the proportions of one gram of urea to about 5 cc. of formaldehyde. Commercial formaldehyde commonly containsa very small percentage of formic acid, generally not exceeding about .2 of 1%. Formaldehyde containing such a small percentage of formic acid may be employed in e'fi'ecting'the condensation of urea, if desired; or, formaldehyde free from formic acid may be employed.

The soluble condensation product of urea,

for example, may be produced by reacting upon urea with formaldehyde or an equivalent reagent, such as the polymers of formaldehyde.

Condensation products of the ureas and equivalent materials listed above and ali-' phatic aldehydes may be referred to ap-pro-' priately as condensation products of the ureaformaldehyde type.

In accordance with the present invention, achemical-resistivity increasing agent, such as salicylic acid, isemployed; and this agent preferably is-introduced into the urea condensation product after the condensation product has been preparatorily formed, as described more fully in my co-pending application, Serial No. 201,555, filed June 25,1927. 7

Where a lacquer is to be produced, the preferred procedure is to first produce the soluble urea condensation product in aqueous solution, and thereafter mix therewith a solution of the chemical-resistivityincreasing agent, the latter solution employing an organic solvent, or preferably a plurality of organic solvents having low surface tensions and possessing different boiling points.

'30 Dissolve 400 grams remain in the solution,

I so

It is important, in producing a lacquer for application to metal surfaces, particularly, to

employ a suitably balanced combination of solvents which will give to the lacquer a com- 5 paratively low surface tension, impart to it proper spreading qualities, and permit the progressive evolution of the solvents without injuring the film of lacquer applied to the surface to be protected.

19 The preferred combination of solvents for a lacquer made in accordance with the present invention comprises water and a plurality of organic solvents, preferably a low boiling solvent, such as ethyl alcohol '(B. P. 78 C.)

amedium boiling solvent, such as butyl alco:

hol (B. P. 118 C.) and a high boiling solvent, such as ethyl lactate (B. P. 154 C.), the latter being preferably used in relatively small proportion. The water, ethyl alcohol,

and butyl alcohol, may be of approximately the same proportions, although preferably varying somewhat; and the ethyl lactate preferably is employed in considerably smaller proportion, largely for economical reasons.

s an example of the preferred process in which a urea condensation product is preparatorily formed and afterwards combined with a chemical-resistivity increasing agent, the following may be stated:

of urea (CO(NH in 2000 cc. of 40% formaldehyde solution; heat the mixture on a steam bath until about 4 40 to by weight of the mixture has been evolved; and then introduce into the remain- 35 ing solution enough distilled water to restore its weight to about of the weight of the original mixture. This leaves a moderately viscous liquid, or solution, of which approximately 60% is water containing considerable formaldehyde, the .condensation product being held in solution. If desired, the liquor mag be freed from the uncombined formaldehy e in any suitable manner, but it is preferred to allow some free formaldehyde to where it apparently has a solvent action. The solution preferably is filtered to remove any insoluble present. It contains about 65 ounces solids: per gallon.

Having thus obtained a solution of urea condensation product, in which d-imethylolurea - NHOHZOH) unon'zoni Urea condensation products solution (65 oz. per gal.) 81 cc.

Denatured alcohol 50 cc. Butyl alcohol 42 cc. Ethyl lactate 7 cc 55 Salicylic acid-.. 5

-' percentage of water in the alcohol.

The alcohols and ethyl lactate serve to hold the salicylic acid in solution and facilitate its intimate mixture with .or dispersion throughout the solution of theurea condensation product. It will be noted that the only water present, in accordance with this procedure, is the water of the condensation product solution, except that there may be a Asnliall acquer produced in accordance with the method just described contains a high percentage of organic solvents. It is necessary that some water be present in the lacquer mixture, but

, the percentage may be varied within rather wide limits. However, it is desirable to lower rather than increase the percentage of water in the solvent, owing to the fact that the organic solvents mentioned possess a much lower surface tension than water andgive tothe' lacquer a lower surface tension as a result. The low, surface tension of the lacquer plays an important part in permitting the film to form properly on the metal surface. The ethyl lactate decidedly improves the spreading qualities of the lacquer; and, in the subsequent baking 0 eration, tends to persist in the film during t e hardening operation which converts the film to a highly resistant and insoluble condition. The low boiling alcohol and medium boiling alcohol,

in addition to-servin assolvents for the salicvlic acid, give to t e lacquer a desirable thin y viscous character, for dipping pur-' poses. The solvents just mentioned may be largely evaporated in the air, or by heating at a temperature of about C. for a short period; and the final hardening of the film may be accomplished ,by bakin at a tem-, perature of about 100 C.-135 for a suitable period, say about twenty minutes; or' the'hardening may be more rapidly effected by heating at a higher temperature, say a temperature of about 150 C. In some cases, five minutes baking will sufiice.

The film may be applied to the metal sur-'. face by a dipping or other suitable process. After hardening the first film, the article may be dipped again and a second film applied in a slmilar manner, if desired, since the solvents of' the lacquer will not dissolve the hardened film- This is a distinct advantage over cotton (pyroxylin) lacquers, for examIple.

t may be stated that a lacquer prepared in accordance with the process described above contains approximately 20% of solids, of which about one-eighth is salicylic acid. This,'with the solvents employed, gives a suitable consistency to the lacquer where it is to be applied by a dipping process, and facilitates economical use of the distillation, of distillate the original formaldehyde, amounting to about 9.5% of the lacquer.

lacquer. Upo 100 cc. of lacquer yielded 68 cc.

containing about two-thirds of.

It has been found that even a very thin film of the improved lacquer will successful- 1y resist for prolonged periods the attacks of sulphur compounds, alcohol, air, moisture, salt-spray, etc., thus protecting the metal surface from tarnishing. or against corrosive action. I

The improved lacquer possesses good keeping qualities, has a higher flash point than cotton lacquers, for example, yields a clear, hard, transparent film of high luster which is unusually resistant to tarnishing action in the air, highly resistant to solvents of the order of alcohol, acetone, etc., and highly resistant to sulphur and oxidizing agents, generally.

It has been found, for example; that a metal surface protected by the improved film will successfully resist for many hours the attack of fumes from a 1% solution of potassium sulphide liquid, when the coated article is located in a closed desiccator above such a solution; and, also, the film is similarly resistant to attack of alcohol vapors and liquid alcohol. Handling, perspiration, etc., will not injure the'film.

When the lacquer film is subjected to a baking operation, as set forth above, the salicyclic acid enters into the reaction which occurs in converting the film to the final hard and insoluble condition. It seems evident that the salicyclic acid combines chem ically with the condensation products of the urea employed, producing complex compounds. It has been found advisable, for some purposes, to employ the salicylic acid in substantially as large proportion as will pass into solution in the solvents employed. It has been found, for example, that five grams of salicylic acid the lacquer mixture set forth above is much better than threegrams or less. The salicylic acid does not act to expedite the reaction and is not a catalyzing agent in the ordinary sense It is known that salicylic acid will combine with formaldehyde to form a resinous product, and possibly to some extent such action occurs in hardening the present lacquer film. On the other hand, it is possible that the solvents employed may combine with such free formaldehyeas may be present in the mixture and be evolved with the solvents in the drying and baking operations. It is possible, also, that some of the free formaldehyde may combine with both the salicylic acid and urea condensation products by a complex reaction, in the baking of the film, but experience indicates that the free formaldehyde is practically eliminated-from the lacquer in converting to the final insoluble state.

The insoluble film produced in the manner described is'vastly more resistant to the action of sulphur, alcohol, etc., than is a film produced from the urea condensation products alone. It has been found, for example,

- above.

The lacquer, after application to the surface to be protected, may be air dried at room temperature, if desired. In any case, it is desirable to carry the drying to a point where the film is dry to the touch and the work may be handled, before subjecting the film to the final baking, operation, which desirably is done at a temperature considerably above 100 C. The drying and baking may be done by subjecting to gradually increasing temperature, if desired.

The film will char at about 200 C. Regardless of the exact nature of the chemical reactions which take place, a very dense clear and hard film is produced which adheres withqreat tenacity to the metal and which is continuous, or unbroken, being free from cracks, voids, etc., which, if present, might leave the metal open to attack at points. It is believed that the greatly increased chemical resistivity is due mainly to the formation of complex reaction compounds betweenthe condensation products of urea and salicylic acid. It is possible that the effect is en hanced by the formation of different resinous products, which are, however, so thoroughly diffused, or blended, as to produce a practically homogeneous body in the final product. In any event, the film is dense, hard, and apparently wholly free from voids.

lVhile it is preferred to form the urea condensation product by heating in the manner set forth above, it is to be remarked that the ureas and aliphatic aldehydes, such as formaldehyde, will combine to form condensation products at room temperatures. To effect the condensation in this manner, however, requires a period of many hours, so that it seems preferable to effect the condensation in the manner first stated; and this has the added advantage where a formaldehyde solution is employed, of enabling a proportion of the water to be evaporated, so that the lacquer may ultimately be a solution comprising a rather high percentage of organic solvents having low surface tensions; If desired, the formaldehyde may be made more concentrated by boiling off 25%, for example, of its volume before effecting-condensation with'the urea.

Also, it is to be remarked that the urea condensation products maybe produced in the presence of acid, in the presence of alkali, or in a practically neutral menstruum. For illustration, the formaldehyde solution may contain about 2% formic acid, or may be neutralized with potash, or made 2% alkaline,

calculated as KOH. Larger proportions of acids, or alkalies, may be employed, how-- ever, but it is not desirable to use more than minute percentages of strong alkalies, or 5 acids.

While one may dissolve the salicylic acid in organic solvents, before efi'ecting mixture with. the solution of urea condensation products, it is possible to first mix the organic solvents with the solution of urea condensation products and then mix therein the salicylic acid which goes into solution in the mixture.

hen the urea condensation product solution is produced in the manner above stated,

the solution ordinarily is practically water white and moderately viscous; and after a lacquer has been produced in the manner stated, the lacquer also is water white. It may happen, however, that in producin the solution of condensation products, inso uble or floating substances may form, iving the liquid a clouded appearance. here such solution is not clear and of water-like whiteness, it may be made clear by filtering the liquor and thus removing bodies which give the clouded appearance. In some cases, iron is present as an impurity in the floating substances and ordinarily will be removed therewith in the filtering operation. If the iron be not removed before mixing with salic lic acid, the lacquer may acquire a slight red ish tint.

The proportions of materials employed in forming the soluble condensation products of urea may vary within rather wide limits; also the proportions of materials which form the lacquer may vary within rather wide limits. In forming the urea condensation product, it is not desirable to use much less than five parts of the formaldehyde solution to one part of the urea. Apparently, however, the proportion of formaldehyde may be increased considerably without great detriment to the rocess. Any largeincrease in the formaldehyde results, however, in the in troduction of additional water into the solution of the condensation produbt; and, as indicated, this is undesirable, as it' may render necessary excessive evaporation.

Denatured alcohol may form a part of a suitable combination .of solvents, where the denaturant is such as not to adversely influence the result. The denaturant-s approved by the Government for nitrocellulose lacquers do not seem to adversely influence the result. Some denaturants, such as zinc chloride, sulphuric acid, etc. adversely affect the product.

The following table gives the boiling N points and approximate surface tensions, in dynesper centimeter, of the solution of urea condensation product given in the first example above, the organic solvents of the lacquer in the example given, water, and the lacquer produced in accordance with the first example g1ven:

Temperature approxi- Substance In the table, it will be noted that water has the highest surface tension and the alcohols the lowest. In order to have proper spreadmg of the lacquer and decrease the tendency of the film to coalesce on drying, it is necessary for the solution to have a low surface tension. The surface tensions of denatured alcohol, butyl alcohol and ethyl lactate are all comparatively low while their boiling points are respectivel 78 C., 118 C., and 154 C. so that at al stages of the drying process there is present some low surface tens1on material. Denatured alcohol may be termed a low boiler, butyl; alcohol, a

'medium boiler and ethyl lactate, a high boiler. In addition to the very desirable surface tension characteristics of denatured alcohol, butyl alcohol and ethyl lactate, their presence is necessary to dissolve the salicylic acid WlllCll is practically insoluble in water.

Another example of lacquer produced in the manner first described in this specificatlon, but employing substitute organic solvents is as follows: f

Solution of urea condensation products oz. per gal.) 81 cc. Isopropyl alcohol 33 cc. Normal propyl alcohol 33 cc. Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether- 33 cc. Salicylic acid 5 grams The lacquer just specified gives fairly satis- Bolling Isopropyl al'cohoL.-; ormal propyl alcohol Ethylene glycol monoethyl other Experience indicates that it is desirable to have present organic solvents that have varying boiling points and low surface tensions when meta or para is employed, the reddish color will not result when iron impurities are present in the urea condensation product.

Substances which may serve as substitutes for the salicylic acids in the present inventionare aromatic compounds. in which the com pound has: (1) both a hydroxyl group and a carboxylic group; (2) derivatives therefrom, in which (a) ammonium, magnesium or strontium has been substituted for the" hydrogen of the carboxylic group or (b) an acetyl radical has been substituted for the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group to form.

acetyl salicylic acid. The following are ex amplesof suitable compounds, and recognized equivalents are not to be excluded fromthe scope of the appended claims: salicylicacids, ammoniumsalicylate, acetyl salicylic acid, hydroxy -naphthoic acids, gallic acid,

strontium salicylate, salicylamide, and magnesium salicylate. Of this list, the hydroxy benzoic acids are preferred, and the last three mentioned substances have proven only moderately good, the least desirable results have been obtained from the use of magnesium salieylate'. 7

Of the salicylic acids, t the ortho is preferred largely because it is more readily and cheaply obtainable. Acetyl salicylic acid and. hydroxyenaphthoic acidsjgive excellent results, but are more-expensive than ortho salicylic acid.

Of the ingredients of a solvent comprising a plurality of organic solvents, it appears that ethyl lactate possesses a high boiling point and low surfac'etcnsion; also, that ethylene glycol monoetliyl ether corresponds rather closely in thes'echaracteristics with ethyl lactate. Another example is ethyl oxybutyrate. Such solvents tend to persist in the film and to maintain its continuity until the hardening operation nears the final point. Any other suitable substance may be used as a substitute. It may be mentioned that the solvents here mentionedare alcohol soluble and'water-soluble. It may be added that these solvents and the alcohols are common solvents for the condensation product. the salicylic acid, or its equivalent, the cellulose esters, and the natural resins, castor oil, etc. That is, the solvents are solvents for each and all of the materials mentioned.

As has been indicated, the proportions in which the materials may be employed may be varied. The ratio of salicylic acid to urea preferably is from 15% to 200% of the urea employed in producing the condensation However,

product. In the illustration given in the first example, the salicylic acid is perhaps 30% of the urea entering into the'condensation product, and this is a preferred minimum, whilst a 15% ratio may be taken as a minimum. below which one cannot go with out reducing the ellicacy of the ingredient to in! point where its use would give slight bene- In case of the use of derivatives of urea, or thiourea, or other substitutes, the proper proportion of chemical-resistivit increasing agent to be combined therewith can be determined by the chemist; and where a sub-.

- stitute for salicylic acid is employed, the proportions will be varied to suit the case and in accordance with the results desired.

As has been indicated, it seems probable that the solvents do not enter into chemical combination with the solids, but are evaporated in the drying and baking operations.

The nature of the solvents and the combinations of vsolvents do affect the character of the film because of their properties to maintain uniform colloidal solutions ofthe solids during the drying process. This is a physical chemistry relation, and the miscibility and solubility of the solvents with respect to each other, and the surface tensions and boiling points-are important factors connected with the deposition of the film. If more than of Water is present in the solvent as a whole, assuming the lacquer to contain about 20% of solids, there will be a tendency towards colloidal separation in the lacquer and the formation of two layers. Preferably,

the water is about 25% or less, but it is desirable to employ not substantially less than 5% water.

Various ingredients may be introduced into the novel composition of matter described. For example, castor oil in moderate percentage may be incorporated in the lacquer, and will serve as a plasticizer, tending to make the film more pliable and tenacious, aiding in insuring the continuity of the film, and tending to render the film more impervious to liquids.

As an example of a lacquer containing castor oil and giving good results, the following is given:

Solution of .urea condensation products (first described) (65 In this lacquer, the castor oil is present in proportion equal to about 2 of the solids. This represents about as much castor oil as will go into solution where considerable water is present.

' quer described above may be blended advan- In the examples given above, the use of 1 gram of urea to 5 cc. of 40% formaldehyde so ution is equivalent, in molecular tions, to about 1 to 4.

While the molecular proportions employed in forming the soluble urea-formaldehyde condensation product are preferably 1 to 4, tests indicate that these compounds are finally present in the resultant product in the proportions of about 1 to 2; and, as indicated above, When the .combination with the salicylic acid is effected, doubtless com plex compounds are formed between the salicylic acid and the urea-formaldehyde condensation products.

The improved compound may be employed forimpregnating sheets of fibrous materials, cloths, paper fabrics, etc.; and the impregnated sheets may be consolidated, if desired, into a laminated product. This result may be accomplished in any desired way. For example, one may impregnate cloth fabrics, aper fabrics, or the like, with the lacquer, tlien dry the sheets, and then consolidate them in a highly heated press under heavy pressure.

It ispossible to employ the salicylic acid 'in my higher proportions than stated in the examples given above. The resistance of the lacquer, for example, to sulphur fumes seems to increase with the percentage of salicylic acid, although not in the same ratio; As an example of a lacquer possessing a larger proportion of salicylic acid than has been given above, and possessing greater resistance to solvents, the following is given:

Soluble urea formaldehyde con depsation products oz. per ga The organic solvents and diluents suitable for employment in the lacquer may include others, alcohols, ketones, esters; also,

the solvents may include petroleum and coal tar hydrocarbons, terpenes, hydrocarbon chlorides, and suitable physical or chemical mixtures, of such solvents.

It has been found that the improved lactageously, for some purposes, with other lac quers, or other materials. For example, the

lacquer described above may be compounded with a cellulose lacquer successfully in varying ratios. As an example, 60% of asuitl able cotton lacquer and.40 of the novel lacquer. described above may be blended. On

the other hand, blended lacquer may be produced containing as little as 8% of the cotton lacquer. The blending can best be effected by mixing together a completely forpropor:

mulated lacquer comprising urea-formalde- Cellulose lacquer Gallons 10 oz.nitro-cellulose (pergaLofaolutlon) in butyl acetate. 13 30 oz. ultra-cellulose (per gal. of solution) in butyl acetate. fig Butyl acetate 7 Buty] nlmhnl 7 Denatured alcohol 6% Banzol 9 Shellac solution (5 lb. per gal. alcohol) 3% Gum-mastic (3 lbs. mastic in 1 gal. equal parts butyl acetate and denatured alcohol) 2' The blended lacquer just described, vof which the cotton lacquer formsa part, may be satisfactorily applied by spraying, or by dip ping. It will harden to the touch at room temperature in about twenty minutes, but in order that it may resist sulphur and alcohol fumes, the lacquered work should, be baked at a suitable temperature, such as 135 C., for about twenty minutes.

The solids in the blended lacquer which has just been described are: 0 1

i Z ga Nitro-cellulose 2.3 Shellac 2.4 Gum mastic 0.9

Urea-formaldehyde-salicydic aci'd resin 9.7

It has been found that the urea-formaldehyde-salicylic acid first described abovemay be blended with lacquer enamels which are on the market in this country.

In effecting such blending, it is advisable sometimes to prepare initially a special blend- I ing lacquer, suchas the following:

Blending lacquer N0. 1

Lacquer-first described above 30 Ethyl lactate 1 10 10 oz. nitro-cellulose in ethylene glycol monoethylether 10 Blending lacquer No. 2

Gallons 3 Gallon! Lacquer first described above 25 Ethyl lactate 10 Denatured alcohol 5 '10 oz. per. gal. nitrocellulose in butyl acetate 10 solution a high viscosity which prevents the pigments from settling out. The solvents used in compounding the lacquer enamels are similar to those mentioned above as alcohollike solvents, but, in general, having the higher boiling points to cause slower drying. These lacquers also contain plasticizers, such as butyl stearate, butyl tartrate, castor oil. Chinawood oil, dibutyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, and triphcnyl phosphates. The combination, or-mixture, of cotton-gum lacquer enamel and a blending-lacquer, as described, gives a film of greater luster, greater hardness, greater adhesion to metal and greater resistance to alcohol and water than the usual lacquer enamels. Baking at high temperature apparently frees the film from odor, also. Such mixtures may also be used in forming plastics.

The special blending lacquer described above contains some nitrocellulose and solvents, in addition to the urea-formaldehydesalicylic acid lacquer. Should the latter be added alone to the lacquer enamel, it may cause some of the pigments to coagulate.

It has been found that natural gums can be blended with the urea-fonnaldehyde-salicyclic acid lacquers. The gums are first dissolved in a solvent. The solvent may vary for the different gums. Denatured alcohol is suitable for shellac, and a mixture of denatured alcohol and butyl acetate is suitable for mastic. Mastic is quite a plastic gum and serves to make the lacquer first described above more plastic. Suitable proportions are la-parts of the lacquer first described above and mastic solution 1 part. The mastic solution contains 35 ounces of mastic to 1 gallon of solution.

Among the natural gums which may be emlployed may be mentioned the following:

auri, copal, sandarac,- guaiac, dammar.

camphor, Zanzibar, elemi, rosin and ester m. The first described lacquer containing salicyclic acid may be compounded in a four to one ratio with gum mastic solution. The mastic solution may be obtained by dissolving six pounds of gum mastic in one gallon of butyl acetate, then adding one gallon of denatured alcohol. Such a lacquer, containing a natural gum, may be advantageously used on metals, such as brass or gold;

Suitable pigments, organic coloring mate rials, etc., ma} be introduced, for example, into the clear lacquer first described, so that the film produced therefrom may-have any desired color. I If desired, materials for thickening the lacquer and for aiding in keeping pigments in colloidal suspension may be introduced. Also, if desired, finely ground materials for giving body and/or cheapening the cost may be incorporated in the lacquer. Similarly, such substances may be introduced into the plastic, or into the molding compound. The latter may be produced in comminuted form for convenience in filling the molds. WVaxes, in small proportions, may be incorporated in these. novel compounds, and

may be especially advantageous in the molding compounds, tending to facilitate removal from the mold and to give a fine finish.

The lacquers described may be evaporated below 100 C. to a solid of somewhat resinous consistency and may then be dissolved in a suitable thinner to obtain an air-drying lacquer. For example, the lacquer described above, may be slowly evaporated to a solvent and may then be mixed with a thinner, composed as follows:

Per cent by volume Denatured alcohol 45 ut-yl alcohol 40 Ethyl lactate 10 lVater 5 This application constitutes a division of my application, Serial No. 201,555, filed June 25,1927.

Bypreparatorily producing a condensation product of an aliphatic aldehyde and a urea, or equivalent material, and then mixing therewith salicyclic acid, or an equivalent material, a composition of matter is provided which can be converted into the final infusible substantially insoluble condition, and theprocedure noted enables the reactions to be easily controlled. For example, in preparing the aldehyde-urea condensation product, employing a. large excess of formaldehyde solution in the preparation, it is possible to prolong the cooking operation many hours without injury to the product.

holding in solution the salicyclic acid; and

the improved lacquer thus produced may be kept indefinitely without danger of solidification and finally may be applied to the surface of an article, dried and hardened, thus producing a final infusible and substantially insoluble film of the improved character noted v above.

The procedure here referred to possesses important advantages over the procedure of initially mixing, for example, urea, formaldehyde, and salicyclic acid, and then heating the mixture to cause reaction. In such procedure, itis impossible to control the reaction in such manner as to obtain the best technical results, and there are numerous ob- .jections which apply to such procedure and do not apply to the procedure whereby the condensation product of urea and formalde: hyde is preparatorily formed and afterwards mixed with salicyclic' acid, for example, before subjecting to heat treatment to produce a final infusible and substantially insoluble product.

The expression a urea-aldehyde condensation product used in the appended claims should be understood as adescriptive expression, and not intended to unduly limit the invention. Thus, where the prior art permits the use of the expression noted is not to be understood as excluding equivalent condensation products, but rather to include condensation products formed by combining aliphatic aldehydes and the ureas, or equivalent substances, set forth at the beginning of the specification.

- The foregoing detailed description has been given. for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible, in view of the prior art.

. What I regard as'new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of producing a composition which is convertible by heat to substantially insoluble condition, which comprises mixing: asolution of a urea-aldehyde condensa tion product; a compound adapted to combine with said condensation product under the'action of heat to form a substantially insoluble product, said compound being selected from a group consisting of salicylic acids, ammonium salicylate, acetyl salicylic acid, hydroxy-naphthoic acids, gallic acid.

strontium salicylate, salicylamide, and magnesium salicylate; a solution of a natural resin; and a commonsolvent for the substances mentioned, taken in proportions adapted to give a clear solution, said common solvent including a solvent having a high boiling point adapted to improve the spreading qualities of and persist in the mixture until it nears the final stage of reaction;

2. The process as set forth in claim 1, as practiced by employing as the high boiling point solvent a solvent selected from a group consisting of ethyl lactate, ethylene glycol,-

monoethyl ether, and ethyl oxy-butyrate.

3. The process of producing a composition which is convertible by heat to substantially insoluble condition, which comprises mixing: a solution of a urea-aldehyde condensation product; a compound adapted to combine with said condensation product under the action of heat to form a substantially insoluble product, said compound being selected from a group consisting of salicylic acids, ammonium salicylate, acetyl salicylic acid,

hydroxy-naphthoic acids, gallic acid, strontium sa icylate, salicylamide, and magnesium salicylate; a solution of a natural resin; :1 solution of a cellulose ester; and a common solvent for the substances mentioned, taken in proportions adapted to give a clear solution, said common solvent including a solvent having a. high boiling point adapted to improve the spreading qualities of and persist in the mixture until reaction.

4. A compositionof matter which is convertible by heat to substantially insoluble condition, comprising a mixture of an aqueous ali hatic aldehyde solution of a ureaaldehydb condensation product; a. natural resin; a solution of a compound adapted to combme under the action of heat with said condensation .product to form a fin'al substantiall insoluble product, said compound being se ected from a group consisting of salicylic acids, ammonium salicylate, acetyl salicylic acid, hydroxy-naphthoic acids, gallio acid, strontium salicylate, salicylamlde,

and magnesium salicylate; and a common solvent for the materials mentioned taken in suflicient proportions to produce a clear lacquer, said common solvent comprising an organic solvent having a high boiling point adapted to improve the spreading qualities of and persist in the mixture until it nears the final stage of reaction.

5. A composition of matter which is convertible by heat to substantially insoluble condition, comprising a mixture of an it nears the final stage ofaqueous aliphatic aldehyde solution. of a a common solvent for the materials men-.-

tioned, taken in proportions to produce a clear solution, said solvent comprising a mixture of low-surface-tension organic solvents havin substantially different boiling points, inclu 'ng a high boiling point solvent adapt ed to improve the spreading qualities of and persist in the mixtureuntil it nears the final stage-of reaction.

6. A composition of-matter as set forth in claim 4, in which the compound selected from said groupis one having both a-hydroxyl group and a carboxylic group.-

7. The process as set forth in claim 1, in which the compound selected from said group is one having both a hydroxyl group and a carboxylic group.

' ROBERT W. BELFIT. 

